A Chorus Line Comes to Canada!

The new production of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical A CHORUS LINE has come to Canada! Playing from October 14 through to November 15; be sure to catch this story of the Broadway experience, through the eyes of the dancers, in the following cites:

Ottawa, Saskatoon, Calgary, Vancouver, and Edmonton

A CHORUS LINE reclaimed its place in the heart of Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 W 45th St) where it opened to rave reviews on October 5, 2006. Elysa Gardner of USA Today calls it “Exhilarating and endearing, it still has a freshness and fervency too seldom seen in contemporary musicals,” while The New York Daily News exclaims “There’s nothing better! The show thrills from the opening number to the glittering finale,” and Jeffrey Lyons of WNBC TV hails it “An American Masterpiece. A show for the ages.” A CHORUS LINE is directed by its original Tony Award winning co-choreographer Bob Avian and is produced by John F. Breglio for Vienna Waits Productions.

A CHORUS LINE recouped its entire $8 million investment after only 157 performances (19 weeks) on Broadway. It broke the theatre’s box office record 7 times in its first 5 months. A CHORUS LINE ended its Broadway run on August 17, 2008 after 18 preview and 759 regular performances. A CHORUS LINE, conceived and originally choreographed and directed by Michael Bennett, features a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban. For this new production, Baayork Lee re-stages the original choreography.

The original production of A CHORUS LINE opened at the Public Theater’s Newman Theatre on May 21, 1975 and transferred to Broadway’s Shubert Theatre on July 25th, opening there on October 19th of that year. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Score and Book, and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. It ran for nearly 15 years, closing on April 28, 1990 after 6,137 performances. A CHORUS LINE remains the longest-running American musical in Broadway history.

Tickets for A CHORUS LINE vary in range depending on performance, seat location, and date of purchase and start at $61.15. Tickets are available through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.ca or call 403.777.0000. Group orders for 10 or more may be placed by calling 1.800.889.8457.

A CHORUS LINE is presented by arrangement with Broadway Across Canada and is a subscription offering of the 2009 – 2010 Series. Visit the official A CHORUS LINE website at www.achorusline.com

October Issue Sudoku Solution

Toronto - Update on recent hate crime murder

Toronto police have now released security camera video of the vehicle they believe was used in the death of 27-year old Christopher Skinner. The footage can be found at

www.globaltoronto.com/Memorial+Service+Toronto+killed/2133286/story.html

Skinner was on his way home from his sister's birthday party during the early morning hours on October 18. At the intersection of Adelaide Street and Victoria Street, he became involved in an altercation with occupants of a black SUV. He was then beaten by an unknown number of attackers, knocked to the ground and run over by the SUV when the attackers fled the scene. He was taken to hospital but later died.

Police are calling the incident a homicide, and have yet to classify the attack as a "hate crime", but friends of the victim say he was targetted because he was gay. The victim was not know to have a history of violence.

Several witnesses have already come forward, but police say they are still looking to speak with anyone else who may have witnessed the crime and are searching for the driver of the SUV.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Stacey Gallant at 416-808-7410 and Detective Doug Dunstan at 416-808-7406, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).

The Buck Stops Here! THE 2009 EXPOSURE FESTIVAL in Edmonton, AB

Exposure: Edmonton's Queer Arts and Culture Festival is delighted to announce this year's headliner, the international sensation and popular culture icon, Buck Angel who will be in Edmonton for three days, Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15 during the nine-day festival which runs until November 21, 2009.

In keeping with this year's theme of Queer Bodies, Buck Angel was the obvious choice. Buck's message of empowerment has struck a passionate chord with folks all over the world. He is not only inspiring people to think independently and contrary to the status quo, he is re-defining gender and educating an entire generation on the fluidity of sexuality and identity politics.

"I love Canada!" states Buck Angel, "I have a huge fan base in Western Canada and Exposure: Edmonton's Queer Arts and Culture Festival has provided me with the perfect opportunity to visit that part of the country. My work has always been well-received by the gay community and to be a part of something that is a celebration of contemporary queer culture is extremely important to me. I was thrilled when the Festival organizers told me that this year's theme was the 'Queer Body' because everything that I do is about advocating for being completely comfortable and sexual in your own skin; I want to empower people to accept themselves for who they really are, regardless of what society tells you. I am all about thinking outside the box and pushing the boundaries of what is socially acceptable."

Buck Angel, the first-ever female-to-male (FTM) transsexual pornstar has created a Best of Buck reel exclusively for Exposure Festival. Audiences are invited to join Buck at the Metro Cinema as he hosts the screening while giving you behind the scenes stories from the making of the films, his thoughts on his work and to answer questions.

9:00 p.m., Friday, November 13, 2009
The Best of Buck Angel
Metro Cinema
at Zeidler Hall in the Citadel Theatre, 9828 - 101A Ave
Q&A and conversation to follow
Adult Themes and Nudity 18+
$10 at the door, Metro Passes Accepted
Film info:
The Best of Buck Angel
US 2009
30 mins DVD
Director(s); various

Then on Saturday, November 14 Buck will participate in an Imaging Salon at Latitude 53 Gallery (10248 106 street ) from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. where local sculptors, illustrators, cartoonist, painters, and photographers will use Buck Angel as the subject of their work. He will be posing live for the artists to be inspired and create. Participants will be required to bring their own supplies.
$5 suggested donation. This event contains nudity and adult themes.

Later that evening look for Buck Angel to make a guest appearance at the 18th Annual Loud & Queer Cabaret hosted by Darrin Hagen presented by Guys in Disguise and Workshop West Theatre at Cite Francophone (8627 91 Street)
7:30 p.m. $30 at the door.

Rounding out his weekend with Exposure, Buck will make his final Edmonton appearance from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday, November 15 at the Really Big Group Show held at Steamworks, the site of last year's hugely successful art installation Bathhouse.

Buck made history when he received the prestigious award from Adult Video News (AVN) for Transsexual Performer of the Year in 2007 for his groundbreaking work in the adult entertainment industry for which he has been nominated again this year. As the pioneer of an entirely new genre: FTM porn, Buck has received international recognition and continues to be a huge box office hit.

His live performances at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival (Scotland), Torture Garden (London), The Box (New York City), Goodhandy's (Toronto) and countless other venues worldwide, have attracted thousands of adoring fans and the respect of critics everywhere.
Buck has been featured by nearly every imaginable international media outlet in television, radio, web, and print. He has appeared on Playboy TV, The Women's Entertainment Network, the Howard Stern Show, Much Music, and others. He's been written about in The Village Voice, Rolling Stone, Time Out Israel, London, and New York, and other publications around the world, as well as Armistead Maupin's book Michael Tolliver Lives.

For more information on Buck Angel, visit his websites:

www.buckangel.com

www.buckangelentertainment.com

Exposure Festival gratefully acknowledges funding from: Edmonton Arts Council; Provost, University of Alberta; TD Bank Financial Group; and the Stollery Foundation.
Expose Yourself!

PRIDE TORONTO IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FROM PERFORMERS FOR THE 2010 FESTIVAL!

Pride Toronto, returning for its 30th year, is seeking submissions from artists of all disciplines to perform at its 2010 festival happening June 25 to July 4. So, whether you're a live band, DJ, drag queen/king, community group or theatrical troupe, we want to hear from you!

Pride Week in Toronto is the third largest Pride celebration in the world and the largest festival in Canada. It takes place over 22 city blocks on 8 stages with hundreds of artists, 3 parades and hundreds of events at venues throughout downtown Toronto. The 2009 festival saw over one million people celebrating the history, courage, diversity and future of our Queer communities. In addition, Pride Toronto has just been named the host city for World Pride in 2014!

Pride Week is produced by Pride Toronto, a not-for-profit, community organization. It's a FREE event for the public supported and made possible by corporate sponsorship, public grants and Pride Toronto's fundraising initiatives.The festival features 10 days of arts and cultural programming, community activities, one of the world's largest street festivals, the Pride Parade, Dyke March, Trans March, Family programming and much more.

Past performers include Kelly Rowland, Deborah Cox, Mel C, Esthero, Islands, Lesbians on Ecstasy, RuPaul, Divine Brown, Jully Black, Thelma Houston, Indigo Girls, Uh Huh Her, Dragonette, The Cliks, Kinnie Star, Carole Pope, Sandra Bernhard, Bitch, Crystal Waters, MEN, Suzanne Palmer, Adam K and Soha, Jeremy Carr, Sydney Blu, Jonathan Peters, Lady Miss Kier, David Morales and White Punks on Dope just to name a few!

Performers participating in the Pride festival have the opportunity to be included in the official Pride Guide, the Pride Toronto website (which averages 23.8 million hits in the four weeks leading up to the festival), coverage through our print, radio and TV partners and targeted marketing by our publicity professionals. If you would like to be part of the BEST free event in Toronto go to www.sonicbids.com/PrideToronto2010 and put in your application!

The deadline is January 8, 2010, so don't wait! Pride week 2010: June 25 to July 4

Go to: www.sonicbids.com/PrideToronto2010

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mary Zondanos, Arts and Entertainment Program Manager
PH: 416-927-7433 ext.233
E-mail: mary@pridetoronto.com

Calgary,AB - Staged reading of "Heterophobia" - October 23 - one night only!

Heterophobia, a one-act dark comedy, first premiered at this year's IGNITE! Festival with Sage Theatre, garnering the biggest audiences in the festival's history!

“Social norms are flipped on their ears in Heterophobia; a tall glass of gay with a twist of straight. Grant comes home for a visit after a tough break-up, with a secret that gets heavier by the second. As she struggles to hold on to her hidden desires, her Moms woo her with waffles, clean underwear, and the prospect of settling down and being artificially inseminated. But as Grant’s secret becomes too big to hold onto, she is forced to make a choice about revealing who she really is.”

Date: Friday, October 23, 2009

Time: Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 7:30pm

Tickets: $10 at the door or reserve at 403.277.5576

Place: Symons Valley United Church, 38 Kincora Rise NW


¨People laughed, they cried, they were riveted. Pam provokes her audience without alienating them: a great feat. She takes on rather controversial subject matter, handles it with grace and humour, finds depth of character and creates a new perspective on an old argument. Her compassion and ability to ask questions, rather than judge or give answers is a great strength.”
Lucia Frangione, Actress and Playwright

"A terrific satiric premise, which makes for wonderful humour and a pointed but delightful attack on prejudice. The dialogue is fresh and original, a real pleasure!"
-Kathleen Oliver, playwright and theatre critic for the Georgia Straight

For more info, contact Pam Rocker at pamrocker@mac.com or 403.923.6667

Toronto named Host City for WorldPride 2014

Toronto has been named the host city for WorldPride 2014. The announcement was made today in St. Petersburg, Florida at the annual InterPride 2009 Conference. InterPride is the International Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Pride Coordinators.

The presentation of the Toronto bid took place yesterday during a plenary session at the conference, and included the screening of a video filmed for the occasion as well as public addresses by David Whitaker, President of Tourism Toronto, Scott Mullin, VP Government and Community Relations, TD Bank Financial Group and Toronto Police Services LGBT Liaison Officer Constable Thomas Decker. The city of Stockholm was also bidding to host the event.

“We are delighted to have been awarded this opportunity to bring the world to Toronto,” said Mark Singh, past co-chair of the organization and current chair of the WorldPride committee. “In this exceptionally diverse city, the advent of a festival like this is an opportunity to highlight the acceptance of the queer community by Canadians, and to raise awareness of other countries where queers are still discriminated against.”

The first round of voting resulted in 77 for Toronto and 61 for Stockholm. This eliminated Stockholm, however as Toronto needed a two-thirds majority vote to win, a second round of voting took place. The result of the second round was a 78% yes.

WorldPride 2014 aims to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues on an international level through parades, festivals and other cultural activities. The provisional program for the festival includes an opening ceremony with a parade of nations, an international human rights conference, a wall of remembrance in honour of the 45th anniversary of Stonewall, and an exhibition and networking fair. A gathering of all Pride Toronto’s former International Grand Marshals will take place, an AIDS Candlelight vigil will be held, and three parades including a Trans March, a Dyke March and Pride Parade. Cultural events will be scheduled to celebrate Canada Day and the US Independence Day, and a closing ceremony will be held immediately following the Parade.

“All the usual aspects of Toronto’s Pride Week will remain,” said Singh, “such as the Family Pride and FreeZone (an alcohol and drug free environment), and world class entertainment and performers will appear on multiple stages during the festival.”

Pride Toronto’s 2009 festival drew over a million people and brought an economic benefit to the city of over $100m. Now in its 30th year, the festival is recognized as being one of the leading cultural events of its kind in the world and continuously strives to become more inclusive. With a volunteer force in excess of 1000 people, the organization’s profile is evidence of its payoff line ‘You Belong’.

With the WorldPride bid firmly now in its grasp, Pride Toronto has plenty of work ahead. 2010 is its 30th anniversary year, and a variety of new initiatives is planned including the introduction of year-round events, beginning with a Fall program that includes a Halloween Party on Saturday the 31st of October.

Singh says that “planning for WorldPride will begin immediately.”

Pride Toronto is the not-for-profit organization that hosts Pride Week, an annual festival held during the last week of June in downtown Toronto. Pride Toronto exists to celebrate the history, courage, diversity and future of Toronto's LGBTTIQQ2S communities (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, Two-Spirited) and is one of the leading cultural events of its kind in the world. Toronto’s Pride Week has been named the Best Festival in Canada by the Canadian Special Events Industry, is recognized as one of only Eight Signature Events in the city of Toronto, and is ranked as one of the TOP 50 festivals in Ontario by Festivals and Events Ontario. www.pridetoronto.com.

September Issue Sudoku Solution

October Issue Now Available!!!

As the leaves fall and the air turns crisp, turn your thoughts away from the coming winter wonderland and plan your escape from the chill! Check out the October issue for the 7 best tips to make your tropical cruise even hotter. Find out why one visit to Puerto Vallarta might be enough to call it home sweet home. Heading to the Olympics this year? Read up on where to stay and play, and learn more about the first ever Pride House. Also, discover la dolce vita with our look at the Italian delights of Sicily and Umbria.

Enrich your autumn with OUTLOOKS! Available in your community!

Find us on stands across Canada and online at www.outlooks.ca